Sibling shopkeepers
apprehend an intruder
on the last day
of the old year.

A couple
hosts a breakfast party
on the first day
of the new year.

Two old friends
reunite to watch the fireworks
on the last day
of the old year.

Four strangers
contemplate the justice of justice
on the first day
of the new year.

Cast

Delaware/Winter/Twain	Valeria Avina
Sawyer/Duff/Abigail	Keyla McClure
Mason/Lennon/Bridge	Regina Morones
Frank/Keltie	Ruben Lebron
Murphy/Seamus/Parke	Kevin Argus

Artistic Team

Playwright	Micah Ariel James
Director	Nina Morrison
Dramaturg	Kristi Banker
Scenic Designer	Hannah Morris
Costume Designer	Melissa L. Gilbert
Lighting Designer	Alex Igram
Sound Designer	Alexandra Johnson
Stage Manager	Katie Burnett
Assistant Stage Manager	Therese Pechacek

Four Stories contains mild adult language, haze, loud noises, and potential use of strobe lighting effects.

Cast Bios

Keyla McClure (Delaware/Winter/Twain)
Keyla is a second year MFA candidate in the acting program. Her previous credits at the University of Iowa include Champagne Gods, MOLD, half sick of shadows, No Fish in the House, Medusa Undone, and Quiet, Witches.

Regina Morones (Sawyer/Duff/Abigail)
Regina Morones is a second-year graduate actor from Oakland, California. She is thrilled to be back on stage as Sawyer/Duff/Abigail in Four Stories. Her performance credits at the University of Iowa include Ruby/Ensemble in Makeover, Odessa/Haikumom in Water by the Spoonful, Anne Harvey in You Lost Me, Stumpfmutta in Out of the Pan Into the Fire, and Lady Macbeth in Lady M. Special thanks to the cast and crew for the incredible experience!

Valeria Avina (Mason/Murphy/Bridge)
Valeria Avina is a second year MFA actor at the University of Iowa. Valeria was last seen in Quiet, Witches by Sam Collier. Valeria thanks Micah for giving her the opportunity to be part of this beautiful writing and Nina for being open and willing to find the humanity in each story. Valeria is excited to be part of this adventure and the creation of different stories in the company of this cast.

Ruben Lebron (Frank/Keltie)
Ruben is glad to be a contributing part of this year's New Play Festival. His previous theatre experiences include The Whipping Man, The Tempest, Miracle Worker, and The Last Days of Judas Iscariot. He would like to thank the rest of the cast and crew for their enthusiasm and dedication.

Kevin Argus (Lennon/Seamus/Parke)
Kevin Argus is a second year MFA candidate from Indiana. He was most recently seen in Absurd Person Singular and Water by the Spoonful. Thank you to Nina, Katie, and everyone who has made this production and all of New Play Festival possible. Enjoy the show!

Artistic Team Bios

Micah Ariel James (Playwright)
Micah Ariel James is a North Carolina-raised artist with Caribbean sensibilities, thanks to her parents and grandparents who were born and raised in St. Kitts, Antigua, and the US Virgin Islands. She is a playwright, poet, performer, and a third-year MFA candidate, with particular interests in folk life, aging and memory studies, oral history, philosophy, and arts education. Previous University of Iowa productions include Mémoire and thisisnotaWarPlay | thisisaWarPlay.

Nina Morrison (Director)
Nina Morrison is a first year MFA director. Nina is a formerly Brooklyn, NY-based director and devisor, and her work has been seen in NYC at Dixon Place, the HOT! Festival, the Little Theatre Series, UCB Theatre, The PIT, Here Arts Center, and in the 2009 NYC International Fringe Festival. At the University of Iowa she has directed Pablo Picasso's Desire Caught by the Tail and Quiet, Witches by MFA playwright Sam Collier.

Kristi Banker (Dramaturg)
A third-year candidate for the department’s MFA in dramaturgy, Kristi also functions as a self-styled archivist and king of infinite words. She has worked with such productions as The Imaginary Invalid, The Great God Narwhal, and I Swear This Is A Real Play, and is in the midst of formulating a project exploring space fractions and the without with DEKKER HIS DREAME.

Hannah Morris (Scenic Designer)
Hannah is a first year painter and first time set designer. Hannah’s most recent work has included installations where the painting process has expanded outside of itself. Hannah is very interested in the collaboration between theatre and visual arts and is very excited to be included in New Play Festival!

Melissa L. Gilbert (Costume Designer)
Melissa is a second year MFA candidate. She is originally from Bullhead City, AZ and received her BFA in Theatre Arts, Costume Design, at Randolph-Macon Woman's College in Lynchburg, VA. Previous credits include, Makeover, Quiet, Witches, She Stoops To Conquer (UI); Laughter on the 23rd Floor (New London Barn Playhouse); Urinetown, Parade (The Theatre Lab, DC); A Funny Thing Happened… (Wildwood Summer Theatre); Spring Awakening, A Midsummer Night's Dream (Randolph College).

Alex Igram (Lighting Designer)
Alex Igram is a lighting designer and electrician in the Division of Performing Arts. He has been an electrician for almost four years, working on dozens of productions. This will be his last production as a designer in the department. He is graduating and May and plans to remain in Iowa City for the time being.

Alexandra Johnson (Sound Designer)
Alexandra is a senior with an emphasis in design. This is her first time designing a show. She has previously acted at the civic center's Stoner Theatre in Des Moines through Huff Theatre.

Katie Burnett (Stage Manager)
Katie is a senior undergraduate student who will be graduating in a few short weeks. Recent UI credits include The Imaginary Invalid, The Faculty/Graduate Dance Concert, and Book Wings. Katie will be continuing to follow her passion for supporting new play development this summer as a company management intern with New York Stage and Film’s Powerhouse Season. Thanks for the memories, theatre folks - it has been a wonderful ride.

Therese Pechacek (Assistant Stage Manager)
Therese is ecstatic to be a part of Four Stories. Past work includes being associate puppet designer for half sick of shadows, associate costume designer for red//a thing about the heart, and wardrobe crew for Collective Amnesia and Doctor Faustus. She would like to thank her family for all their support.

New Play Festival Information

Link to the New Play Festival homepage.